4 Oct. American Minister¹ called here this morning. He stated that he had had previous conversations with you relative desirability, in the view of the American Government, of securing Irish Free State ratification of Naval Treaty at very early date. He said Mr. McGilligan after consulting Executive Council informed him that Dáil approval would be necessary that Dáil would not meet until late in November and that Executive Council was not disposed to ratify without prior submission for two reasons as follows precedents established as regards other important International Instruments and undertakings given to Dáil and possible criticism of Opposition party. Mr. Sterling communicated confidentially to his Government these reasons. Now in view of Japanese ratification and early expected ratification by Australia New Zealand and India situation had altered in the view of his Government and he had received to-day the following cablegram from the Secretary of State:

Mr. Sterling stressed again the desirability of Irish Free State ratifying promptly and desired me inform Mr. McGilligan to see if some means might not be discovered to secure our ratification immediately. I undertook to do this at once and to let him know Mr. McGilligan's decision.